A "psychotic" man tried to snatch a five-year-old child from his mother's side outside a primary school after offering him money and a play on his "bouncy castle".

Steven Hickson also lured a girl aged eight to his east Hull home by offering to give her a DVD.

A neighbour who called at the property for an unconnected matter was "surprised" to see her coming out of a bedroom with a DVD, Hull Crown Court heard.

Hickson was found not guilty of sexually assaulting the girl by sitting her on his knee and kissing her hair, but marked his 56th birthday on Thursday by being convicted of child abduction and attempted child abduction after a four-day trial.

Prosecutor Rukhshanda Hussain had told the jury the attempted abduction took place outside a west Hull primary school in early autumn after the victim's mother had gone to collect him.

The boy was on a scooter when his mother became aware of Hickson "walking close by".

Hickson was heard to say to the boy: "That's a nice scooter. Can I have a ride? I have some scooters and a brand new £5 note. You can have that if you want."

As the mother "grabbed" her son and pulled him closer, Hickson said: "I have a bouncy castle at my house. You can come and play on it if your mum won't mind."

Generic image of a schoolboy

Hickson then got hold of the boy's right arm and "started to pull him", Miss Hussain said, but his mother pulled him closer to her and Hickson walked off.

Recorder Sophie Drake said that was the most concerning of Hickson's two crimes.

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Miss Hussain said the mother was "in shock". She told the school and police were called. Hickson was then arrested and charged.

The father of the girl Hickson abducted had previously been "concerned" to see him chatting to her in the street and told her to "get away and come inside". Before she did so he was heard to say "I've got a present for you."

He had asked another girl, aged 12, to go to his house to get a DVD, and also offered her "sweets and money". Her father told Hickson not to invite children to his home, the court heard. Hickson was also heard saying "I love kids," and "Come back at 8pm, we are going to have a party."

Hickson had even gone to the eight-year-old girl's home to ask if she was "coming out". Her father told him to leave and not come back.

Hickson, who has already served the equivalent of a 20-month sentence on remand, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month following the preparation of pre-sentence reports. They will assess what help or support he may need on release from prison, but also whether he should be considered dangerous.

He had declined to give evidence in his defence during his trial and was said to be "psychotic" at the time of the offences, but did not now have the condition.